Remateable fiber optic splice

Abstract

A fiber optic, remateable splice assembly comprises an elongated housing; a flexible, fiber receiving and positioning unit centrally located within said housing; first and second removable ferrules, one within each end of said housing; and holding means associated with said housing for releasably maintaining said ferrules within said housing.

I claim: 
     
       1. A fiber optic, remateable splice assembly comprising: an elongated housing; a flexible, fiber receiving and positioning unit centrally located within said housing; first and second slidably removable, cylindrical ferrules, one within each end of said housing; and holding means associated with said housing for releasably maintaining said ferrules within said housing, said cylindrical ferrules being rotatable within said elongated housing when said holding means are disengaged, said rotation having no effect upon the transverse placement of said ferrules within said ends. 
     
     
       2. The splice assembly of claim 1 wherein an insert is positioned between said centrally located positioning unit and the interior end of first and second said ferrule. 
     
     
       3. The splice assembly of claim 2 wherein said holding means comprises a threaded aperture and a set screw therefor, each of said set screws engaging one of said ferrules. 
     
     
       4. A method of making a remateable splice comprising the steps of: fixing a flexible fiber receiving and positioning unit centrally within an elongated housing having two ends; removably fixing a ferrule in each of said housing ends; inserting a fiber optic cable having at least a portion of its optical fiber extending therefrom into the longitudinal bore formed in each of said ferrules until said portions of said optical fibers meet within the longitudinal bore formed within said centrally located fiber receiving unit to consummate said splice; and permenently fixing said cables to said ferrules. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein a pair of inserts each of which has a longitudinal bore is positioned within said housing, one on either side of fiber receiving unit and between said unit and the interior end of said ferrules.